Electrochemical oxidative C–C bond cleavage of methylenecyclopropanes with alcohols

Abstract

Herein, an electrochemical approach toward the ring opening functionalization of methylenecyclopropanes (MCPs) via C–C bond cleavage in the presence of alcohols is reported. The methodology avoids the usage of external oxidants and shows good functional group tolerance. The mechanistic studies suggest that the reaction proceeds via direct single electron oxidation of the C–C bond of MCPs followed by ring opening to form the desired product.